Certain groups survived the nuclear catastrophe outside of the Vaults. They have had many generations in environments that are heavily irradiated. They are also likely inbred. It would make sense that such people would have random mutations. We do currently have ghouls and supermutants, but random mutation would not lead to set races of mutated groups. It would lead to random anomalies within the human population. What does everybody think of a random mutation generator (PCs could pick mutations or get a random and random NPCs may have a mutation)? Nothing that would give stat bonuses. It would just be cosmetic (like in Point Lookout). Would having a merchant with a third eye in his cheek be a little too much or just right? What are some mutations you would like to see? Could this also be applied to mutated monsters?

Mutations I would like to see
Albinism
Oddly placed eyes
baldness
female beards
extra fingers
moles (on the face, not the ground)
horns (idk, maybe)
tails
forked tongues
scales
odd skin pigment
pig noses
odd growths
odd colored eyes
sharp teeth
big eyes/ little eyes

they could even update it with each patch so that just when you thought you've seen everything....lol All I want for Christmas is APA and a gauss rifle.

Not a 'bad' idea, but you'd have to have a plan as to how to apply them first....

You would have a list of mutations and variations of the mutations. These would be applied randomly to random NPC's (if wanted) or deliberately to named NPC's. Characters may be able to select a mutation at character creation or gain one through a quest or over exposure to radiation or FEV. Its fairly simple. In the computer program it would be no different from what type and hair color a character can have. It just seems so odd to me that everyone is so free of mutation after several generations of radiation exposure. Think about Megaton! That entire city has lived next to a leaky nuke for a few generations and the people aren't odd at all. That combined with decreased reproductive options means that we should get some very odd looking fellows running around. Not everybody, just like 1 out of 20 or something. All I want for Christmas is APA and a gauss rifle.

I think some 'mutation' would be good, but not too much.

Too many 'mutations' and we'll have elves, pixies, demons, dwarves, and whatever else running around.

And That, just would not be Fallout.

Things like scales or forked tongues are more like an intrusion of a different dna, rather than a mutation. These would most probably only manifest themselves as discolorations, disfigurations or lacking/issues with some elements/substances (e.g. one guy named Garry Turner with a rare skin disorder, which makes it.... well, look it up for yourself ).

Though I like this idea very much. Gaaaaaaary!

Think about it this way, Humans tend not to look too kindly upon mutants... I put the 'Skill' in 'Kill.'
Wait, what?

Oh no! I didn't mean that at all. These would just be abnormalities on a standard human. There wouldn't be additional races either from this kind of system. You may deal with a traveling merchant and just as you are done you realize that one of his hands is green. Its more like that than there is a town full of purple, pointed ear, dark purple haired people who live in trees. Maybe just limiting it to local mutations, like you can have scales or discolored skin, but only in a patch, would be for the best. Another thing that may be good is to have asymmetrical mutation rules i.e. you can have one pointy elf ear, but not another. A final good rule would be that all mutations look "unhealthy". Your pointy elf ear can't look all pretty. Your ear is deformed and it could fall off at any time. It would be covered in cancerous growths and has a coloration that suggests it isn't getting enough blood. But hey, its still pointy All I want for Christmas is APA and a gauss rifle.

i agree we should see a lot more mutations like this. but......would the vast majority of players even notice or care about this? if that merchant has 6 fingers on each hand would anyone really see that?(other than sticklers for details like me and others like me who do...but we're a minority). not very practical unless it's something blatantly obvious and memorable like a third eye in the middle of your forehead or an earlobe hanging down to your jaw. in terms of seeing this or implementing this there might be an issue of practicality. is it really practical to add this to your game engine just to please a small minority of folks? depends on the team's vison and the game engine i suppose. the only place i can see this is on yourself. again though something noticeable you can add during character creation maybe. as i said, i like the idea but at the end of the day is it really that important or practical? just my 2 cents obviously.